Depop: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2020 has seen a rise in e-commerce retail sales like never before. There has been a global increase of 18.4%, more than 4 times the expected figure, and in the UK alone, at the height of our national lockdown in May, a third of all retail sales were made online. Inevitably, this gives rise to fashion marketplace apps like Depop. A platform which describes itself as the place where ‘the next generation come to discover unique items’. With 21 million global users, and a third of these between the ages of 18-25, it seems they’re not wrong. 

The question is, does Depop provide generation z with their slow, sustainable fashion dream, or does it hide inside itself, an underbelly of something not so ethical? 

Part one: The Ugly (and downright odd)

Most of us probably know the infamously funny instagram account @depopdrama, which boasts over half a million followers. Depop users send in screenshots of their often not only dramatic, but at times quite frankly odd, back-and-forth interactions between themselves and other users; buyers or sellers.

 

 

 

 

For me, @depopdrama represents the entirely un-edited and un-self aware, corner of the internet where Depop takes up space. Unlike other apps where the content is entirely thought-out, messages on Depop are unrestrained and at times too honest. I guess sometimes humans really do just want that top, and they want it now… and for free. 

As people become more environmentally conscious, the slow and sustainable vintage clothing like that available on Depop, has become increasingly popular. Depop represents a movement that amasses such demand, and simultaneously advocates against fast fashion companies with unethical practices. Of course, this means the platform is bound to come under fire for being even slightly hypocritical, and that it does. 

Enter: the Ugly. Charity shops’ ever rising price points, inflated prices for so-called ‘vintage’ or ‘rare’ items and the termite-like quality of unethically sourced and manufactured clothing that manages to seep its way into what should be a second-hand clothing marketplace app. Seeing things from this point of view, Depop is a platform that has fed into the gentrification of sustainable living, in turn making it more difficult for people who identify as working class to acquire cheap, and ethically made, clothing. 

Part 2: The Bad (how to spot it, and the alternatives)

I’ve put together a short but sweet infographic that outlines how to spot, and avoid, the Depop sellers who sell clothes that are far from sustainable.

If you decide Depop isn’t the marketplace app for you, there are alternatives. To name a few; Vinted, Asos Marketplace, eBay, local clothes swapping apps and By Rotation.

Part 3: The Good (and very good)

It’s not all bad, in fact, for an app with so much popularity (and infamy), Depop does well to maintain a good level of positive vibes. 

It’s time efficient, saving you hours of your day scouring charity shops for gems. You can search whatever your heart desires, and miraculously, you’ll probably find exactly what you are looking for. Especially in times of lockdown, which is now our new normal, it’s a great way to get your sustainable fashion fix, all without exposing yourself to a deadly virus.

The Very Good: inclusivity. Many people make their own fortune selling on Depop. It’s a platform that champions the autonomy of owning your own business and making your own money, especially for people who may not find regular work as accessible to them, like the disabled. 

The second Very Good: sustainability. Any business which seeks to help care for our environment and keep waste down, like Depop does, should be in our collective good book as a people. Many Depop sellers repurpose items by upcycling them or even make handmade items from deadstock fabrics. It’s an online space which encourages innovation. 

A popular seller on the app, @ghostsoda, does a good job responding to common criticisms people have, linked here.

Discover more lifestyle and sustainable living content on our social media:  

How to Keep Sustainability in Mind When Shopping for Shoes

With the change in seasons, many of us will be looking forward to shopping for new shoes. A common misconception is that buying sustainable footwear is expensive, and it can be if you’re not looking in the right places. Here are a few sustainable footwear options to keep in mind when shopping.

Alice + Whittles

Alice + Whittles’ Classic Black Ankle Rain Boot is currently on sale for $102 US Dollars. These chic booties are ethically and sustainably sourced. 90% of Alice + Whittles’ materials are sustainable and traceable. The company pays a Fair Trade premium price to source natural rubber from the jungles of Sri Lanka. To read more about Alice + Whittles’ rubber sourcing visit their website.

Nae

Nae’s Lina style heel is currently priced at only £82. These shoes are vegan and made using natural fibers such as Piñatex, a fabric made from pineapple leaf fibers. The company also utilizes materials such as organic cotton, cork, vegan leather, and recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to produce their footwear. Learn more about Nae’s products on their website.

Veja

Veja’s SDU B-Mesh Olive White Natural sneakers are being sold for $120 with free shipping in the US. These shoes are made from recycled plastic bottles, vegan suede, wild rubber, and other sustainable materials. It takes three recycled plastic water bottles to make one pair of sneakers. To read more about Veja’s sustainable and ethical practices go to their website.

Will’s Vegan Store

Will’s Vegan Store’s Smart Chelsea Boots in chestnut cost only £90 and are carbon-neutral, vegan, and ethically made in Portugal. These water-resistant, vegan Italian leather shoes are a steal. To learn more about Will’s Vegan Store and its products visit their website.

Po Zu

Po Zu’s Butterfly sneakers are priced at £59. These shoes are 100% vegan and the rubbers soles are made from Fair Trade priced rubber from Sri Lanka. The company currently has a Star Wars shoe collection with styles from the films. To learn more about Po Zu visit their website.

Discover more lifestyle and sustainable living content on our social media:  

You Don’t Need to Buy Sustainable Clothing And Be Out Of Pocket, Here’s How To Shop Affordably

How crowdfunding is changing the business of fashion

In an industry sees runway trends transformed into high-street hauls in a matter of days, its no wonder that independent designers are struggling to compete.

But we at LiveTree want to shake up the system.

We want to give independent designers a place to share their collections and fund their ideas. We want to give consumers a choice and a chance to really be a part of the fashion they love.

Creatives only…

Traditional crowdfunding platforms have low success rates for designers because their businesses are pitched against non-creative projects. LiveTree is different – our platform is exclusively for creative projects in fashion and music.

Just ask…

We don’t have to tell you about the power of the web, fashionistas have raised thousands through crowdfunding. However we realize that isn’t what everyone is looking for in a crowdfunding campaign. Maybe you want to create a one off piece and just need a small investment to get your project off the ground.

Each campaign is different. Our designers decide their needs and set rewards for investors and buyers. No judgment here you can ask for as little or large amount as you need!

Spread the word…

LiveTree is unique. Our philosophy is all about using word of mouth to share the things you care about, with the people you care about. As well as investing in crowdfunding projects you can take it to the next level by ‘branching’ projects i.e. sharing with your friends. In this way the projects get funded more quickly and you can earn commission as a thank you.

Support a good cause…

As if helping new designers wasn’t enough, you can use your commission earnings to support our partner charities. We make it so simple to donate to these good causes at just the click of a button.

 

Our designers are part of a movement of slow fashion. Items are designed for longevity, for individuality and for the sake of creativity. Crowdfunding is changing the world of fashion by giving independent designers a voice and giving consumers a choice.

Start now by using this invitation, for a limited time only. 

How to support Fashion, Music and Charity all at once

Livetree is a revolutionary sharing platform that supports independent charities, music and fashion and here’s how.

Fashion

fashion-designer

LiveTree provides up and coming designers with a means of funding their next collection and you can help them. Simply follow the crowdfunding link on our website, browse from the many exciting crowdfunding projects and donate to the one which you like the best.

Branch

branch

But you can go one better than just donating to a designer’s crowd funding project. You can help them to get more funding by hitting the ‘Branch’ button and sharing the project with your friends. If your friends donate through your shared link, you’ll get a small commission directly from the designer.

 

What about music?

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LiveTree also provides musicians and bands with a means of funding their next release and you can help them in exactly the same way. Simply follow the crowdfunding link on our website, browse from the many exciting crowdfunding projects and donate to the one which you like best.

Just like before, you can hit the ‘Branch’ button and share the project with your friends for a chance to earn commission through your link.

 

And what about the charities?

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LiveTree is proud to support a growing number of charities by providing a quick and easy way to browse and donate directly through our site. But we’ve also found a unique way to bring our passion for music, fashion and charity together and here’s how.

Remember how you could earn a commission by branching a crowdfunding project? LiveTree also provides you with the option to pay your commission directly to a charity of your choice meaning you can help fashion designers, independent musicians and charities in one hit.

Want to try it for yourself? LiveTree is an exclusive, invitation only platform but luckily, for a limited time only – we’re offering you access through this link:

Click here for exclusive access

Once you’re in, you’ll have the power to offer exclusive invitations to your friends but first it’s time to dive in and give it a go. Click on this link right now to begin.

Click here for exclusive access

LiveTree #owntheweb

How to survive as a fashion blogger

If the writers at Marie Claire are to believe a new fashion blog is born every 0.25 seconds (or so it feels like)… whilst that might be good news for the everyday fashionista, if you’re a blogger it’s the last news you want to hear. More fashion blogs mean more distractions for your readers and more competition to create stand out content.

So how do you continue to separate yourself from the growing army of fashion bloggers, and more importantly how can you build your blog into a more successful business?LiveTree is shaking up the system and what’s more we can help you to make the transition from fashion blogger to fashion designer. Sound too good to be true? Let me introduce you to our platform…

LiveTree is a revolutionary site that uses the tried and tested principles of word of mouth to empower creatives. We provide up and coming fashion designers and musicians the opportunity to showcase their creativity by selling their products within our unique community.

You’re probably thinking it sounds a bit like a jumped up version of Etsy, but that’s just the beginning. What makes LiveTree unique is that you as a fashion blogger can browse collections from up and coming designers and when you find something you love, you can share it with your followers – we call this branching.

By branching the things you love, you not only support independent designers, but in the process you earn commission from any sale made through your links, so everyone’s a winner!

Branching products is just the first step, the LiveTree platform allows you to forge relationships with those at the cutting edge of fashion.

There are opportunities for you to help designers to build their brand by seed funding their creative projects – you could help to fund their next collection and in the process earn rewards – think behind the scenes fashion stories, interviews with the latest fashion designers, exclusive invitations to get your hands on the collection before anyone else. Anything is possible!

LiveTree is starting to sound pretty good, even if we do say so ourselves – but we’re not finished yet, as a budding fashion designer you can start your own crowdfunding project and promote it through your blog. You could even get your own followers to fund the creation of your very own fashion label.

The only question left to answer is ‘are you ready to make the transition from fashion blogger to fashion designer?’

At this early stage LiveTree is an exclusive, invite only platform and if you want to be part of this elite club you will need to act fast. Grab this opportunity with both hands by contacting us today to get your invite code and become one of the pioneering fashion bloggers to use our groundbreaking platform.

Thanks for reading, #owntheweb

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